What?s your opinion on Indian English literature? Do you believe in the stereotype that has been viciously circulated and eagerly (or nonchalantly) accepted? Do you think Indian writers in the Queen?s language portray India?s curious juxtaposition of poverty and exoticism to stoke that clichéd stereotype? Or are you reminded of R K Narayan and feel smug about it all?
Now, here?s a surprise for most of you. Take time out for Night of the Krait, an engaging piece of fiction by Shashi Warrier. Does it make you do a double-take to consider an action-packed thriller by an Indian author? It kind of did to me, but only in the beginning. This book was first published in 1996, and how I wish I had read it back then!
What?s the deal?
Set in the mid 1990s, the book follows the travails of the Special Operations Force (SOF), a team of crack commandos from the Army, trained for crisis management of the ?active? kind. The author has drawn upon topical issues to tell his tale. So terrorists from the Free Kashmir Front (FKF) carry out a series of attacks aimed at wreaking havoc across India.
First up is the hijack of a coach of the Shatabdi Express near Basin Bridge station, close to Madras. Lieutenant-Colonel Rajan Menon (Raja), the operational head of the SOF, reveals an analytical mind to deduce that there is a leak somewhere in his own side. Even as the tension and excitement of a rescue operation mount, evidence is found of an outsider ? a mastermind ? behind the well-planned moves. Raja names him the Krait, and thereby starts a cat and mouse game, or rather a krait and mongoose game. Together with his immediate superior Colonel Ismail Qureishi and General Kelkar, Raja attempts to unmask the Krait.
The story has three major flashpoints, besides the final showdown with the Krait. To some extent the climactic encounter between Raja and the Krait is only the extension of the last of the flashpoints.
Raja?s troubled personal life is also woven into the storyline. Between arduous training and playing the mind game with the Krait, Raja goes through a divorce, and even finds love in Sandhya Upadhyaya.
Just when one begins to think that the author is contended with just skimming the surface and describing the symptoms, he makes a foray into the deeper malaise, displaying his knowledge of both the larger picture as well as the minute nuances of the game.
The surprise element in the climax is not very prominent; and the ending seems a bit abrupt. Somehow one gets the impression that the author had said what he wanted to, and just left it at that.
Logistics :
The book is written in first person, purportedly narrated by Raja. Warrier does not glorify his hero unnecessarily. Neither does he patronise him or attempt to justify him. He makes no bones of his apparently average looks and not-so-commanding personality.
Each of the eighteen chapters in the book is prefaced by a narrative of a krait in its natural abode. He keeps drawing parallels with the serpent throughout the story. An excerpt:
In the gathering dark the krait awoke and lay still, its forked tongue flickering, waiting for the earth to cool before setting out on its nightly hunt. This was a common krait, found all over South Asia. It was blue-black, with faint white bands running across its body, about an inch apart: in the dark, when it went hunting, it was almost invisible.
Overall, where Warrier scores hugely is in character development and narrative style. He also deserves kudos for his command over the proceedings.
Warrier gives us a glimpse of his writing prowess as he slips effortlessly between action-packed narratives to detailed technical commentary to nuances of dialogue. He has kept it all pretty simple and unpretentious, choosing to let flow in a pace that is not too racy, but never too slack.
Right from the central protagonist Raja, whose every thought is laid threadbare, all the way to fringe one-page characters, like the little girl at his Bombay hosts?, the ICF expert, the doctor-chemist duo and the precocious pre-teen tree-climbing champion of the locality ? Warrier paints a portrait so perfect that the reader tends to see and experience them. Sample how he describes the ?breathless girl of seven or thereabouts? as she returns from school:
She came in like a small, ink-stained whirlwind, cranky with hunger, quietening down with a pretty smile when she saw me. Pausing only to change into jeans and down a glass of milk, she went down to the yard to play with the other kids in the block.
The author has done his research pretty thoroughly. Be it weapon systems, arms and ammunition used, explosives, protective clothing and accessories, chemicals, or even medical terminologies ? Warrier has made sure he does not fall short. Not to forget his repeated descriptions of the krait and its world.
Ruthless in his unapologetic castigation of all forms of authority ? be it politicians or bureaucrats or government bodies ? Warrier describes them briefly but effectively, perhaps to bring out the contrast with the selfless soldier.
Recommended? Yes, highly recommended!